Hydrocarbon rotary engine.



A. N. STEWART.

HYDROGARBON ROTARY ENGINB APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1914. pglggga Patented Mai. 16,- 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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XM/ @y a A. N. STEWART.- HYDROGARBON ROTARY ENGINE.

AIPLIOATION FILED JUNE 30, 1914.

lPasenteol Mar. 16, 1915.

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2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNlTED STATES ADAM STEWART, OF NORTH BAY, OITLARICD, CANADA.

fivrringrir oniric- HYDROCARBON ROTARY ENGINE.

To all whom t may' concern.' 'y L NEIL STEWART,

Be it known that I, ADAM of the town of North Bay, in the District of Nipissing, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful, Improvementsfin Hydrocarbon Rotary Engines, 'of which the following is the specipansion when ignited and delivered so that the rotor receives the impact "tangentially and to devise means for automatically mainsuitable casing having the open sides 'of the taining the normal speed of the engineby regulating the number of ignitions per revo- 'lution and it consists essentially of a bucket- Wheelmounted ona suitable shaft and in a bucket fitting closely `against the casing Wall, a firing chamber'having a port com- `rnunicating with the Wheel chamber against vthe open sidesof the buckets, a closing valve for the port designed to be balancedby the compressed lgas in the yfiring chamber,-

mechanism for yautomaticallypumping gas charge into the `firing chamber, an ignition mechanism and means for'regulating the number of ignitions .per revolution as hereinafter more 4particularly explained by vthe following specification. e

Figure `1, isa general perspective view of my engine. Fig. 2,'is a sectional4 elevation.

Fig. 3, is across section through my engine. Fig. 4, is a sectional detail of the pumping mechanism. Fig. 5 is adetail elevvation of thek governor control. Fig. 6, is a detail vievv of the timing plate for the ignin tion mechanislnQ Fig. is a sectional detail of the ground connection'cut out. Figa 48. is a plan sectional view of Fig. 5.

In the drawings like letters of reference' indicate corresponding'pa-rts in each figure.

..... ..Minhemvvall of the casing 'and arranged in i chamber- A is theengine casing resting upon a suit-4 able portion A provided tor chamber- A?. 4

A3v are a series of ring chambers located with a circular roclo'se proximity to the periphery or the rotor -specmcatinf Lettersrateaf. f Patentedvlvar. 16, i915. A Appucatipnmedmne'ao,1914. serialimseaaoa i l Al is a port extending from eachvalve.

chamber immediately abovethe valve seat and leading to the rotor chamber in atangential dlrection.

AS Vco-acting with the valve seat A5 and normallyclosing the inner`end of the port A6. A9 is a guide sleeve held in ,the upper end of the valve chamber and in .which the piston ,valve A7- reciprocates. he valve sleeve A9 is preferably Hang-ed a |its -upper end and secured to the engine casing by suitable tap screws A1". The upper end of the sleeve A9 is internally threaded and' the upper end of the piston valve A7 is provided with an upward projection A12.

A13 is .a hollow cap` screwed into the threaded portion of the sleeve A?.

A is a compression tpring extending between the inner 'end oslf the cap and surronding the projectionl A12 at its opposite en A15 is a needle valve designed to control the air in the valve chamber between the valve head 'A15 and the inner end of the sleeve A8. A

' Although I have'only shown one needle valve it vvill, of course, be understood that each valve chamber is provided with a similar needle valve. l'

Bis the main shaft extending centrally through the rotor chamber Azland journaled in suitable bearings A".

B is the rotor provided with a circumferential series-of buckets B2, such buckets being preferably inclined ina direction opposite to thedirection of the rotation of the rotor. f

Cis a gear mounted upon the main shaft.

C', C2 and C? are supplemental shafts extending radially from the gear wheel C, `such shafts being'held at their'inner ends instep bearings C `supported by the main bearing (l5-of the rotor cas'in The outer ends of the shafts C", C2. an Cl are supported in bracket bearings 0.

C'Vis a collar secured upon theshat C. Cs is a sleeve slidably mounted upon the shaft C and normally resting upon the vcollarC.

6() A7 is a piston valve provided with a head C9 are L-shape governor arms pivoted Y on pins C1o extending through the slotted a bearing lug C carried by the main casing.

v a forked lower end C extending .to each The arm C13 is provided with a looped enlargement C"5 surrounding the sleeve C8 and l into which the truiinion pins C12 extend.

C16 1s an arm pivotally connected at its upper end to the arm C13 and provided with i side of the inain shaft.

C18 is a disk of insulating material inserted within the back of the gear wheel C and provided with an inward projection C1 extending through a slot C20 formed in the wheel C.

C21, C22 and C23 are a concentric series of contact rings secured to the insulating disk C18. j

C2* is a projecting pin extending from each of the concentric contact rings G21, C22 and C23 through the insulating projecting portion C1 so as to project beyond the inner pface of the Wheel C. A

D is the timin'gdisk of insulating material carried' in a stationary position by the main bearing C5.' Y

D', D2, D3 and D1 are an outer series of contact pieces arranged circumferentially on the timing disk D and. in horizontal' alinement with the outer concentric rings C21. D5 and lD6 are similar contacts arranged at diametrically opposite points in the timing disk D and in horizontal alinement with the intermediate contact ring C22. D7 is a Contact piece' also carried by the timing disk D and in horizontal alinement with the inner concentric contact ring C23.- X j VEachliring chamber A8 Vis provided with` a sparking plug E. In the engine as shown in the drawing the firing chambers are arranged in four positions, namely, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (see Fig. 2).

l6 and 7 are wires leading from the contacts D and D5 to the sparking plug E of the firing chamber A3 located at the position 3.

8 and 9 are Wires leading from the contacts D and D2 to the sparking plug E of the'ring chamber A3 located at the osition 4 and 10 and 11 are Wires leading rom the contacts D3 and D8 ,of the timing plate D to the spark'plug E of the firingcliamber 'A3 located at the position 5.

12 is a wire leading from thecontact D4 of the timing plate D to the spark plug E of the firing chamber A3 located at head, I.

circuit. The wire 13 is connected to one of the arms of the fork Cu being insulated therefrom and contacting at its inner end' with one of the contact rings C21, C2z or C23.'

18, 19 and 20 are similar brackets and con-- tacts supported thereby located in juxtaposition to the firing chamber Aa at positions 3, 4, and 5.

2,1, 22, 23 and 24 are supplemental brackets each carrying a spring contact finger 25 held normally in contact with the binding post contact point 17.

F and F are drums mounted upon the shafts C2 and C3, the inner end of each drum being concentric with the center of the shaft and the outer end eccentric with the center ofthe shaft thereby giving to the drums an upwardly inclined set in relation l Y to the supporting-shaft.

F2 and F3 are straps mounted upon the drums F and F.

G and G are cylinders carried by the main casing and provided with pistons Gr2 provided w1th depending piston rods G?.

Gr4 is a bell crank lever mounted on al suitable bracket extending from the casing and pivotally connected at one end to the piston rod Gr3 and provided at its opposite end with a forked portion G5 extendingA to each side of the shaft C2.

It will, of course, be understood that the cylinder G is also provided with similar pistons and piston rods and bell crank lever as above described in connection with the cylinder G. The 'lower end of the forked portion G of the bell crank lever Gr4 is con- 'nected by links G to each side of the strap F2.

. H and H are pumping'cylinders' each provided with la piston H2 connected by a seat 12. A

I7 is a channel through-which the hydrocarbon fluid is fed, the inner end of such channel being closed by the valve head I5' when in position on its seat.

Is is a channel for supplyin air to the inner end of the channel extending into the orifice I immediately below the valve I" is a discharge valve comprising the head I9 having a tapered inner portion 11 position .2r fitting a corresponding valve seat In formed' 13 and 14 are terminal Wires o the'n'iain in the bottom of the orifice I. The orifice 130 'tapered 4head I5 co-acting with the valve A ffz-is provided with -a-lllcw-:closin'g iplug :Inl-in, whichts'the stem I1*of-thev'alve 1", such valve'being held in place by means ofA a compression spring. Il? extending between the'haseof the closingfplug and the endof thelstem. 4

116 is a discharge portjezrtending fromthe orifice I below the valve seatI.

jEach firing chamber A'isprovided with an inletprt J into which isthreaded ahol- 4low `valve Aplug J having a tapered valve lseat JZ atitsinner end. Y

J3 is a 'valve stem extending-"through the valve'casing and provided at its innerlend with a tapered valve head J* co-acting with the'valve seat Jzand bearing at itsopposite end againstthe springcontact finger 25.

llt'is a compressionspringbearing at its outer end-against a suitable proyecting por# tion extending from the stem J3 and designed to'normally hold the-valve "J" closed "scribe the operation of the'same.

and the spring contact finger 25 in Contact with vthe-"contact point 17'.

Having describedjthe principal partsinvolved in my invention I will brieiy de- Initially 'when theengine is starting the r`strapsfFand F3 are placedat the eccentric v'en'ds'offthe drums ,F and F thus-operating thepiston heads Hgto draw in a chargeof gas whenthe enginefiotor is manually ,ro-A tated by any rsuitable means. "By the upward movement of the pistons H2 the valves :I5 are drawn to the'open position drawing in separate charges of gas and air through the'ducts I7 and'Iswhich mix as they enter the cylinders H and xH. .As the piston head H2 performs its downwardstrokeja charge of gas is Acompressed forcing the valve I9 open allowing the gasto discharge through the port I16 of 'the cylinders H or H which are connected by pipes 29 to the cylinders Gand G. As the gas enters the cylinders G and G it raises the pistons G2 thereof. lAs the-pistons G2 rise to the top of thecylindersG and G. they gradually. draw the strapsF2 and F3 4'toward the concentric ends of the drums F 'and'FQ thatis, into the position shown in the drawing thereby 4automatically throwing the lpump' piston H2.out of operation thuspreventing an' over pumping 'of themixture.

Normally when the' engine is thrown out `the pistons Gzare in thewposition shownf that is tosay, full of gas. As the pistons G2 'arrive at their extreme upper position the compressed gasA is discharged through the pipes 28 and 29 leadingto the valve casing J"I which 'forces the valve J* openthereby 'drawing 'the valve J 3 longitudinally "away from "the spring finger 25 allowing such `i spring finger to breakaway from the-con tact point17 thus .opening the "groundcircuit and preventing the passage of Acurrent through the ignition mechanism during' the amaba-fthe gasasefeeumg ima the-firing chainbersifAa thus preventingany ldanger of Yback ring.

" :Ashereinbefore described the' inner'end of the' main contact wire'13 engages with the 70 outer V'Contact ring C21 and therefore asI the gear revolves the outer contact, pin C 'extending frein such ringsuccessively engages` v with the contact piecesvlDQ'Dz, D3 and D4b thereby successively `passing the current 75 -throug'h the sparking plugs of 'the firing 'chambers A8 into positions 2, 3,v 4" and 5. A

Asthe-speed of the engine'increasesthe governor 'arms C9 y outwardly until the required maximum speed is reached. After .80

theen`gine has passed this maximum speed the inner ends of the governorarmv C have carried the .sleeve C8 -upwardly a suilicient distance to raisethe arm C13 and the forked arm C16- suiiiciently to vcarry the lower endsJs of the "forkedarm C18 out of'engagement withthe ri'ng'C and into engagement- -with thering C22-provided with intermediate pin -lprojections C24 which alternatelyengage with the Contact pieces lD5 and -D alter- .90 nately carrying :the current through -the wires ll'and 7 to the corresponding spark plugs -E thereby providing for only two explosionsiin each revolution. If it is neces- `saryftofurther-reduce the rotor 'power to-g bring=thelengine down to normal running ASpeedthe forkedend of the arm is still carriedfupwardly until'it contacts with the ring'CzSA provided with the innermostzpin `projection C24 which'contacts with'the in- 100 nermost contactpiece D7 of the timingi disk D, the contact D7 being connected by the wire 9 to'the correspondingspark plug E, thus providing for only one explosion per revolution. .If' the engine running speed 105 decreases belowfnormal the reverse of this operation takes place. f

:As has been before described the compressed gas is fed into the firing chamber. andthe-.springpressure 'fof the.valve A7 is 110 sufficient'justlto 'balance this pressure. As soon, however, as the firing-takes place the lvalveA7v is forced open by the sudden expansion Tof the gas which is discharged through the port Afin a tangential direc- 11.5

-tion against the buckets'B2 of the wheel Bf v .thus rotating the wheel by the force of the .impact of gas against such buckets. The

burnt gas is .exhausted through the exhaust ports 30. Itv will also b e seen thatas soon 12o l as lthe charge. of gas is fed into the firing chamber that lthe valve J 'i closes `thereby lcarryingthe. spring contact finger into engagement with the contact point 17. 'It will alsobeseen that -each contactpoint 17 is 125 lsuccessively.connected to a wire, 314s() that .the groundVv circuit is broken by the operation of each inlet valve as it feeds the'charge '.into' the. firing chamber.

vFrom-'this description it"will.beseen=that 139 I have devised a very simple form of hydrocarbon rotary engine in which the charge of gas is held 1n compression ready for ignition in the firing chamber free of the rotor and that when the charge is fired the firing chamber is automatically opened to deliver the tired charge into the rotor chamber against the buckets ofthe rotor, in which there is no danger of back tiring, in which the pumping mechanism is automatically thrown out of gear at the completion of the delivery of each charge into the firing chamber so as to eliminate the danger of over pumping and in which the number of ignitions per revolution is regulated so as to maintain the rotary movement of the engine at normal speed. y

f What I claim as'my invention is.

ll. In a hydrocarbon engine, the combination with the main casing having a circular rotor chamber and a firing chamber located in proximity to the rotor chamber, a vport designed to carry the tired charge from the tiring chamber to the rotor chamber'and a spring pressed valve balancing the normal pressure of the charge inthe iring'chamber, a pumping mechanism for feeding the gas into the tiring chamber, means for .automatically throwing Athe pumping mechaautomatically throwing the pumping mechanism out of gear after the delivery of each charge to the tiring chamber, and a rotor member mounted on a suitable shaft and lit ting within the rotor chamber and a circumferential series of buckets carried thereby, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a hydrocarbon engine, tion with the main casing having a circular rotor chamber and a firing chambflocated in proximity to the rotor chamber, a port designed to carry the fired charge from the' firing chamber to the lrotor chamber and a sprmg pressed valve balancing the normal pressure of the charge in the firing chamber,

a pumping mechanism for feeding the gas into the firing chamber, Aa charge receiving cylinder and piston, a pipe leading from the pumping mechanism into thecylinder be- .beath the piston, ,pump operating mechanism and throwing out gear operated by the rising of the piston in the cylinder for throwing the pump operating mechanism out of gear,l asand for the purpose specified.

3. In a hydrocarbon rotary engine, the combination with the main casing having a circular rotor chamber therein, a ring chamber and a port designed to carry theired charge from the firing chamber tangentially to the rotor chamber, a valve normally closing such port against the pressure of the charge in the tiring chamber and designedl to be opened by the fired charge, 'a force pump designed tov force the hydrocarbon mixture into the iring chamber, an operating shaft for the pump,'a drum carried on the combina-- the shaft being eccentric to the shaft at one Yend and concentric to the shaft at the other end, a stra'p slidably mounted thereon, a link each charge has been pumped, as and for the Y force pump designed to force the hydrocarbon mixture into the firing chamber, an operating shaft for the pump, a drum carried on the shaft being eccentric to the shaftl at one end and concentric to the shaft at the other end, a strap slidably mounted thereon, a link connection between the strap and piston rod of the pump, a cylinder interposed Vin the duct leading from the pump cylinder to the tiring chamber, a piston therein designed to be raised by the gas fed from the aforesaid bucket into the bottom of the cylinder, a bell crank connected to the piston and a -link connection between the opposite end of the bell crank and the drum strap, as and for the purpose specified.

` 5. Ina hydrocarboh'engine, the combinai tion with the main caslng having a circular rotor chamber therein, and a series of firmg chambers arranged circumferentially around' the rotor chamber and ports designed to carry a charge from the firing chamber in a. tangential direction into the rotor chamber, of a rotor provided with a circumferential series of buckets into which the chargeis delivered from said ports, an ignition plug for each tiring chamber, means for feeding a charge of gas into each ofthe tiring chambers, a valve forclosing the port leading from the firing chamber to lthe rotor cham- .ber and for holding said port closed normally against the pressure ofthe charge in the iring chamber, and automatic means operated by the varying speed of the engine for cutting out one or more of the sparking plugs, as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a hydrocarbon engine, the combination with the main casing having a circular rotor-chamber therein, and a series of firing" chambers arranged'circumferentially around the rotor chamber and ports designed to carry a charge from the firing chamber in a tangential direction into the rotor chamber, of a rotor provided with a'circumferential series of buckets into which the charge is delivered from saidv ports, an'ignition plug .for each firing chamber', means for feeding a charge of' gas into each ofthe ring chambers, a valve for closing theport leading from the firing chamber to the rotor cl1a1n` ber and for holding said port closed normally against the pressure of the charge in the firing chamber, a governor shaft driven from the rotor, governor arms carried thereby, an upwardly movable contact designed to be raised by the outward movement of the governor arms, and a stationary Contact plate having a series of contacts supported thereby leading to the igniters, as and for the purpose specified. l

7. In a hydrocarbon engine, the combination with the main casing having a circular 'rotor chamber therein, and a series of firing chambers arranged circumferentially around the rotor chamber and ports designed t@ carry a charge from the firing chamber in a tangential direction into the rotor chamber, of a rotor provided ,with a circumferential series of buckets into which the charge is delivered from said ports, an ignition plug forv each firing chamber, means for feeding a charge of gas into each of the ring chambers, a valve for closing the port leading from the firingchamber to the rotor chamber holding said port closed normally against the pressure of the charge in the firing chamber, a governor shaft driven from the rotor, governor arms carried thereby, an upwardly movable contact designed to be raised by the outward movement of the governor arms, a stationary contactl plate, and a plurality of co-acting contacts carried by said plate and designed to travel in concentric paths, as and for the purpose specified. 8. In a hydrocarbon engine, the combination with the main casing having a rotor chamber and a firing chamber adjacent to the rotor chamber, of a pump, a duct leading from the pump to the firing chamber designed to carry the hydocarbon mixture thereinto, an igniter for the firing chamber,

a circuit leading through the igniter, a valve casing communicating with the firing chamber and into which the duct leading from the pump extends, a circuit breaker provided with spring contacts against which'the valve stem bears to hold the contacts closed and which are designed to open when the valve stem bears to hold the contacts closed and purpose specified.

ADAM NE1L STEl/VART. vVitnessesz EDWARD ERNESTv SHEPPARD, OLIVIA GERTRUDE Nnsrr'r. 

